Lord mayor takes Greens councillor to court over climate protests
Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner will take Greens councillor Jonathon Sri to court on Tuesday in a bid to stop climate protests in the CBD later in the week.
Cr Schrinner met with Cr Sri on Monday afternoon to resolve issues over a permit application for a protest march that the Greens councillor for The Gabba lodged last week with Brisbane City Council.
The lord mayor said those mediation talks could not find a solution and the council has now taken the matter to the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
Cr Schrinner said he supported protests, but not protests that interfere with the city's road and public transport.
"I am standing up for the rights of Brisbane residents and Brisbane City Council will be taking the Greens councillor Jonathan Sri to the Brisbane Magistrates Court tomorrow," Cr Schrinner said on Monday night.
"People have the right to protest, but not at the expense of the travelling public.
"The matter will be considered in the Brisbane Magistrates Court tomorrow.
"Cr Sri had proposed a protest that would shut down the city’s roads and public transport infrastructure during Wednesday morning’s peak hour."
Cr Schrinner said the council had offered Cr Sri an alternative protest route and an alternative protest time.
He said Cr Sri rejected both proposals.
"The council entered into mediation with Cr Sri to work towards an outcome that would allow people the right to protest, but not result in delays to the rights of the travelling community and emergency services while also severely impacting on the local economy," Cr Schrinner said.
"Council proposed an alternative route or a later time that would not shut down the city during morning peak hour."
Cr Schrinner said he refused to let Brisbane residents fall victim to Cr Sri’s "extreme tactics to disrupt the daily lives of Brisbane residents".
Cr Sri has consistently argued that protests should be allowed and that interruptions to traffic were planned not to be long-term.
Cr Sri could not immediately be contacted for comment on Monday evening.
The move to ask Brisbane Magistrates Court comes as the Queensland government on August 20 introduced tougher action on "stupid protesters" locking themselves tools and traps to delay arrests and extend road closures.
On Sunday at the ALP state conference left delegates passed a motion asking the Queensland government to consult more widely before enacting this planned protest legislation.